By Evelyn Choo | Posted: 06
March 2011 1421 hrs
SINGAPORE: Several Major Opposition parties have
agreed not to contest Opposition MP Chiam See Tong's seat of Potong
Pasir.
This is one outcome of a meeting of some 30 representatives on
Saturday - which was described as "friendly".
They also agreed to avoid three-cornered fights in Group
Representation Constituencies (GRC), and to try to contest all
seats available.
The three-hour talks yielded a key agreement - that the Singapore
Democratic Alliance will not contest Potong Pasir Single-Member
Constituency SMC).
This will prevent a three-cornered fight for incumbent MP Chiam See
Tong, whose Singapore People's Party has been involved in a public
spat with the Alliance.
Singapore Democratic Alliance secretary-general Desmond Lim said:
"We give due respect to Mr Chiam, and we think he is the right
person to decide his own choice. We will fully support his
decision."
Although there is a general consensus among opposition parties to
avoid three-cornered fights, what's left to be seen is whether
independent candidates would show up on Nomination Day to contest
for the SMCs.
One of them could be Andrew Kuan, who attended the session
briefly.
Mr Andrew Kuan and Mr Karim Sattar from the Singapore National
Front, have both separately said they are interested in the Joo
Chiat SMC.
Singapore Democratic Alliance's Mohd Nazem Suki said: "He wanted to
be in the meeting to justify his seat as an independent candidate
in one of the SMCs.
"Then, as a consensus, we decided, and I as the chairman, have to
agree to the majority of the members to relieve him."
The Worker's Party looks to be fielding the largest team - 24
members for four GRCs and five SMCs.
Singapore Democratic Alliance chairman Gandhi Ambalam said: "The
parties have come, and they feel they have the resources. They have
the manpower. And it's a healthy sign, in fact.
"I think I would consider that it is a turning a point for the
democratic process in Singapore".
If the opposition does field 87 candidates, it will mean the
People's Action Party will not be returned to power on Nomination
Day.
-CNA